Two Total Lunar Eclipses in 2015

Mark your calendar now: the next two total lunar eclipses will take place on April 4 and September 28, 2015.

April 4, 2015 Lunar Eclipse

Skywatchers on the West Coast of North America are favored for this event, since the Moon will be higher in the sky for viewers west of the Mississippi. For those of us on the East Coast, the Moon will have already set by the time by the time of maximum eclipse. Totality will only last a very short 4 minutes, 43 seconds during this event.

September 28, 2015 Lunar Eclipse

The September 2015 eclipse will be visible across all of North America — and for those of us along the East Coast, will occur during the late evening hours, which is a treat for those of us who are less “early bird” and more “night owl.” The Moon will spend nearly 72 minutes bathed in totality. Weather permitting, obviously, this is the event to not miss, especially for the eastern half of North America.

More details and exact times for both eclipses are available from NASA’s website at the links above.

What is a Lunar Eclipse and Why Do They Happen?

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(Thanks, NASA!)

And, if you’ve ever wondered what a lunar eclipse might look like if you were on the Moon, a Japanese lunar satellite took this video during a penumbral eclipse back in 2009 (via @Summer_Ash). Really, go watch now. That ring of fire you see emerging? That’s the Earth with sunlight shimmering all around the edges. Spectacular.